Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is the gift that keeps on giving. Originally released for the Xbox 360 as a temporary exclusive, it was then ported to the PC and much later to the PS3. As you can see by reading our reviews, the GameDaily editors each took to this icy shooter with varying degrees of warmth. Now, after a year and a half, Capcom has once again released the game for the Xbox 360 in a revamped and less expensive package called the Colonies Edition. Boasting only a few notable changes to the multiplayer campaign, it's just enough to entice you back to the frostbitten world of E.D.N. III.
In the game, a guy named Wayne (what kind of hero name is that?) is out to avenge the death of his father by slaughtering all of the alien Akrid he can find and taking out vicious snow pirates vying for control of the planet. Most missions take place across the snowy mountains, either on foot or piloting one of the games many mech units, although occasionally you will duck into buildings or invade an Akrid hive. There are also five massive bosses that, even when playing on an easier difficulty, provide ample challenge.
With 11 missions, which should take you less than 30-45 minutes to complete, the single player campaign is notably short. The level design is linear, giving Wayne specific tasks to complete, usually killing as many enemies along the path as possible, but you'll marvel at stark nature of the snowbound planet, with rundown buildings littering the colonies, environmental weather effects and the way Wayne leaves impressions in the snow as he tromps from point to point. The alien enemies, especially the giant bosses, are equally impressive, and the action holds at a rock solid frame rate. With an ambient, yet sparse soundtrack and some impressive voice acting that ties the story together, you have a great single player campaign.
Unfortunately, though, Capcom hasn't changed anything. The controls are a little unwieldy (bumping up the aiming speed helps), and Wayne moves incredibly slow. Hopping in one of the Vital Suit (VS) mechs speeds things up a bit (they can hover as well as dash). Combat, either way, is satisfying, with a host of powerful weapons and plenty of ammo to finish the job. That said, some awkward enemy artificial intelligence (moreso with the pirates than the Akrid) as well as the stiff controls needed tweaking
So, what did Capcom spend the extra time on? Modes, lots of modes. There are three new single player modes, as well as a bevy of multiplayer extras, and this is why Lost Planet is worth another look. Tacked on to the single player campaign is the Score Attack mode, which has you plow through the missions a second time, shooting to top the online charts. Off Limit mode is similar in that you'll replay the missions, but this time with incredibly boosted stats that make for a much more intense combat experience. Finally, Trial Battle mode has you face the game's bosses back to back.
Lost Planet's multiplayer has always been a love-or-hate affair. Colonies Edition will likely not change your mind if you couldn't get into the third-person battles before, but for those that found enjoyment, expect lots of fun. Not only can you play as humans, but also the Akrid. That's right, you can take control over one of the large beasts against a team of human combatants, which is highly gratifying. Beyond this new mode, there are also four new multiplayer maps, new weapons and a somewhat shoddy and forgettable first-person mode. The major downside, though, is that this edition of the game is not compatible with any other, including the original Xbox 360 version, which is going to severely limit the number of friends you'll be able to find to play against online.
Lost Planet has a heck of a lot going for it: amazing locales, a decent and well told story, intense battles and a hearty multiplayer offering. The upgrades are welcome, but far too few given the amount of time Capcom had to beef up the game. Nevertheless, it still stands the test of time as a great third-person shooter that is definitely worth a look if you missed the original. At $29.99, we feel you'll definitely get your money's worth.
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